Due to the theory of relativity it is my understanding that it was 2 years for the crew but decades on earth. That is why Wayland said he was long dead. (please anyone correct me if I am wrong) Also, I remember that Ridley mentioned in an interview that this movie deals with relativity in a realistic way.

Unfortunately Star Trek warp velocities are measured exponentially, see formula below. Warp Factor VxC (TNG) VxC (TOS Scale x chi) 1 1 1,292.7238 2 10 10,341.7904 3 39 34,903.5426 4 102 82,734.3232 5 214 161,590.4750 6 392 279,228.3407 7 656 443,404.2634 8 1,024 661,874.5856 9 1,516 942,395.6502 9.2 1,649 9.6 1,909 9.975 3,053 9.99 7,912 9.9999 199,516 10 Infinite 1,292,723.8 The average value of chi = 1292.7238 As Roddenberry was the original creator of the franchise his establishing a new set of rules concerning warp velocities is canon. There is no longer a warp 15, or any velocity above warp 10. That would suggest in terms of comparative technologies that a Star Trek vessel would be travelling somewhere between warp 2 and 3 in order to reach Zeta Ret in 2 years time. I agree that you have to suspend your disbelief if you want to enjoy any Sci Fi as relativistic effects are always negated in the majority of contemporary space travel. Warp Factor VxC (TNG) 1 1c 2 10 3 39 4 102 5 214 6 392 7 656 8 1,024 9 1,516 9.2 1,649 9.6 1,909 9.975 3,053 9.99 7,912 9.9999 199,516 10 Infinite

You do the math yourself. Check out Time Dilation and the Lorentz Transformation in Wikipedia. It's not science fiction.

Thought you might find this an interesting read on the topic! : ) The Warp Drive Could Become Science Fact:[url=http://news.discovery.com/space/warp-drive-possible-nasa-tests-100yss-120917.html]Discovery News[/url]

'in a Spock voice of condescending eyebrow twitchery', "Fascinating."

I read this article and it seemed like plausable science. Now let's see a demomstration any demonstration..in the next 20 years.

I really know the speed

My calculations shows me that the U.S.C.S.S PROMETHEUS was travelling at speed of 14.485766 times speed of light or 4 342 716.760672 km per second( 2 698 439.091127796 miles per second[in kilometers is exactly ,in miles approximately ])or very near to 0.039659806 LYSD(light year per sidereal day). Here are my explanations, I hope you understand Distance from earth: 327 000 000 000 000 km or very near to 34.56 -34.57 LY(34.563927272608 LY exactly [9 460 730 472 580.94 km is a light year] ) Time to reach the lv-223:2 years,4 months,18 d,12 h,15m So as the ship left the planet earth in early august 2091 and reached the planet in 21 of December in 2093(31.30.31.30),so two days more. Now 730 days,122 days,18 days,36 hours,15 min 871 days with 12 h and 15m. *4 342 716.760672 *86400 ( 1 day) =375 210 728 122.0608 km 375 210 728 122.0608*871(days) 326 808 544 194 314.9568 km 4 342 716.760672 *43200(seconds,12 hours)=187 605 364 061.0304 km 4 342 716.760672 *900(15 min)=3 908 445 084.6048 km Now 326 808 544 194 314.9568 + 187 605 364 061.0304 +3 908 445 084.6048 =327 000 058 003 460.592 km (only 58 million of difference ,that is nothing to the ship) so the ship stops just before reach it destiny, as in the movie. I hope all of you understand me, bye.

Yer thats what I thought too :p . I doubt anyone making the film knew this judging by the level of detail they were working at!

 

Koujilovesdrhell:

No, I think Wayland said he was dead because he was lying.  He was old and dying but was hidden on the ship in stasis.  

My understanding of the Alien universe is that they use time expansion instead of time dilation.  So, the earth does not age thousands of years while they sleep for a couple of years while traveling at 15c.  Instead, time proceeds at an accelerated rate INSIDE the ship, so all occupants must be in suspended animation or they would age decades or more during a flight that only took a couple of years from the perspective of someone on earth.  That's how they get around one group aging more than another, and why only robots can be active during a journey like that.